The State Government on Monday announced that a total of 4,416 tarred roads measuring 19,938 kms were developed under ‘Prime Minister Rural Roads Project’ during the past 12 years at a cost of Rs5,002 crore in Chhattisgarh.
Under the project, a total of 8,917 settlements were linked to the main roads through development of the roads, according to an official Press release issued.
During the current financial year 2012-13 till the month of January, a total of 77 roads were developed measuring 476 kms at a cost of Rs170 crore while linking 187 settlements.
During the same year, approval was granted for development of a total of 217 roads measuring 579 kms with the cost outlay of Rs221 crore under the EWI scheme in the Naxal affected Kabirdham and Rajnandgaon district.
Moreover, the Empowered Committee of the Rural Development Ministry has endorsed a proposal for development of 1,800 kms of roads numbering 519 at an estimated cost of Rs850 crore.
During the forthcoming financial year 2013-14 beginning April 1, the State Government has set a target of completing development of 750 roads measuring 2,000 kms at a cost of Rs500 crore.
According to Panchayat and Rural Development Minister Hemchand Yadav, the ‘Prime Minister Rural Roads Project’ was launched on December 25, 2000 on the birthday of the then Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee with a view to bringing social, economic, educational and health development of the people while providing them basic services in the entire country.
Under the scheme, those regions with a population of 500 or more persons besides tribal and Naxal affected regions with a population of 250 or more persons was targeted to be connected with the main roads by development of pucca roads from settlements of such regions.